Lead Procurement Specialist

Lead Procurement Specialist

Pay Rate: $60/hr. (124k est. annual) Location: Huntsville, AL ZIP Code: 35811 Start Date: Right Away Keywords: #AerospaceProcurementJobs; #ProcurementJobs; #ProcurementSpecialist More than 7 years of experience in Procurement, preferably Aerospace, Production

Position Summary: The Lead Procurement Specialist serves as a strategic procurement leader responsible for developing and executing enterprise sourcing strategies that optimize raw material spend, strengthen supplier partnerships, and ensure continuity of supply for critical aerospace manufacturing operations. This role partners with executive leadership, Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to drive sourcing initiatives that improve cost competitiveness, operational efficiency, supplier performance, and business resilience. The successful candidate is an influential leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and has demonstrated success leading complex sourcing initiatives, negotiating high-value commercial agreements, mitigating supply chain risk, and driving continuous improvement across a global supplier network. This position supports commercial and military aerospace programs while ensuring supplier strategies align with long-term business objectives. This role works closely with aerospace transparencies manufacturing and production facilities to coordinate production schedules, forecast demand, support budgeting activities, optimize supplier performance, and ensure uninterrupted delivery to commercial and military customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for raw material sourcing initiatives, aligning procurement strategies with business objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Develop and execute category strategies that optimize total cost of ownership while balancing quality, delivery, innovation, sustainability, and risk.
• Lead complex supplier negotiations including pricing, contracts, commercial terms, and long-term supply agreements.
• Build executive-level relationships with strategic suppliers to improve collaboration, innovation, and performance.
• Lead executive supplier business reviews and strategic performance discussions.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Quality, and Supply Chain leadership to support production schedules and customer commitments.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, cost optimization, and supply base rationalization.
• Analyze commodity markets, supplier capabilities, and industry trends to proactively develop sourcing strategies.
• Develop long-term supplier relationship strategies that support business growth and operational excellence.
• Drive procurement process improvements and organizational transformation initiatives that improve efficiency, resilience, and supplier performance.
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs and lead supplier development initiatives.
• Lead supplier risk assessments and business continuity planning.
• Support forecasting, budgeting, inventory optimization, and capacity planning across manufacturing operations.
• Lead multiple enterprise sourcing initiatives while managing priorities, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop procurement professionals while fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 7+ years of progressive procurement, strategic sourcing, or supply chain leadership experience in manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise sourcing initiatives from strategy development through execution.
• Experience influencing executive stakeholders and leading cross-functional decision making.
• Proven success managing strategic supplier relationships and high-value commercial negotiations.
• Experience developing sourcing strategies that deliver measurable cost savings, supplier performance improvements, and operational efficiencies.
• Experience leading supplier risk management and business continuity planning.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or developing procurement teams.
• Experience developing and managing procurement and supplier KPIs.
• Aerospace manufacturing experience preferred; aerospace coatings or transparencies experience is a plus.
• SAP experience preferred.
• U.S. Citizenship is required due to the nature of the work.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic thinker capable of translating business objectives into procurement strategies.
• Executive presence with exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence without direct authority across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational transformation and procurement process improvements.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, and P&L analysis.
• Ability to balance long-term strategic planning with day-to-day operational execution.
• Results-oriented leader with a record of delivering measurable business value through sourcing excellence.

Preferred Knowledge & Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier relationship management.
• Knowledge of aerospace manufacturing and regulated environments (AS9100, ISO, or similar).
• Experience supporting commercial and military aerospace programs.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and ERP systems such as SAP.
• MBA or professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, APICS/ASCM, or Lean Six Sigma preferred.